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RAPID EXCAVATION RESEARCH - ELEMENTS OF A NEW EXCAVATION TECHNOLOGY

Paper reviews some of the significant research accomplishments obtained under a three-year, $6.6 million research program in rock mechanics and rapid excavation sponsored by the Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) and managed by the U.S. Bureau of Mines. In addition to the rock mechanics research five major phases of excavation systems analysis, geologic production, rock disintegration ground support, and materials handling, were represented by the projects funded under the ARPA program. Major research areas summarized in the paper encompass: computer modeling; geologic prediction; rock breakage methods (novel techniques and innovative applications of conventional energy sources); ground support; as well as materials handling.